anwhile...
Atlas handed Zoren a handkerchief, keeping it between his index and middle fingers. Deep lines ford between Zoren’s brows as he looked up at Atlas.
"You might need it," said Atlas flatly. "I heard it’s good for chewing to quell jealousy."
"..." Zoren smiled at his first brother-in-law before shifting his eyes to where Penny and Mint were. "No need. Mark, dispose of her later."
Mark just glanced at his boss and then at Atlas. What rendered him speechless wasn’t Zoren’s order, but rather Atlas’s slight nod of approval.
’First Brother, I don’t think that is sothing you should be nodding about.’
But, well, it was a good thing Zoren ordered this for Mark. Otherwise, things would’ve been a lot more complicated because Mint had been poking Zoren’s nerve. Back then, Mint would do this because everyone around Zoren knew that Mint saw Zoren as her rival.
But alas, Zoren never budged. Only today did Zoren make a move on Mint, and Mark was slightly concerned.
’Did he finally feel threatened by her?’ wondered Mark, shaking his head as he refocused on making the fire. The other guys had been trying their best to start a fire for the bonfire but to no avail. Hence, Mark stepped in.
At the sa ti, Benjamin and Jas rested on the log. They were the first group who had tried to start the fire but to no avail.
"I didn’t know starting a fire was hard," Jas mumbled, only to notice that Benjamin was staring sowhere else. "Ben, didn’t you say you’ve done this before? Why can’t we start a fire?"
But alas, Benjamin didn’t answer and kept his eyes fixed in a direction. When Jas followed where Benjamin was looking, he saw Penny and Mint shaking hands.
"Huh... I think they made up," Jas mumbled, smiling at Benjamin again. "Ben, you don’t have to worry about your cousin. Look at them, getting a bit friendly."
Benjamin pouted a bit, casting Jas a brief look.
"What?" Jas mumbled. "Why do you look like you don’t approve of it?"
"It’s not that I don’t approve of it. I’m glad if Mint and Miss Penny are friends now."
"Then, why are you looking a bit down?"
"Well, it’s just... Mint doesn’t have friends, you see," Benjamin explained with a deep sigh. "So, I’m a little worried she’ll ss it up with Miss Penny. Of course, my cousin is important to , and so is Miss Penny. It would be nice if they ended up as friends, but at the sa ti, if they didn’t get along, it’d be a bit more complicated."
"You’re thinking too much." Jas laughed, patting Benjamin’s back. "I’m sure everything will work out for the best."
Benjamin clicked his tongue. "Hopefully."
"I’m sure it will be," Jas reassured. "I know Penny, and even back then, she just has this aura that attracts people to do better for her."
"Really?"
"Of course."
"Are you saying this so Miss Penny doesn’t have to bully you anymore? I heard you were one of her brother’s bullies in the past, and after teaching you all a lesson, you’ve been her war trophy."
Jas’s face twitched. "Hey, where did you hear that?"
"Lily told about it the other day."
"That woman..." Jas clenched his teeth, unable to stop himself from glaring in Lily’s direction. Lily, Nina, and Ginnie were on the other side, chatting and not helping with the fire at all. "So days... I hate her."
Lily was like a curse to so because she would happily talk about the past and eventually bring up so of their dark monts. Mark would probably agree with Jas on this.
---
Monts later...
After a long try, the fire they were creating finally ca to fruition. Although it needed Mark’s help for that to happen. Everyone else just had to watch.
Since their trip was coming to an end with only another day to spend, they planned to rest for the last day. Perhaps do so extra shopping or just completely relax. There was no certainty if they would still et up or just spend the day individually. Hence, they were treating this as their last day together with a bonfire.
"The town gets a little cold at night," Lily smiled happily as she reached out for a bit of the heatwave. "This feels nice, doesn’t it?"
"Yeah, it does." Ginnie stared at the bonfire but was thinking of sothing else. "I should also learn how to start a fire."
"Finn, it’s okay, you should wear this instead." Nina, on the other hand, tried to give Finn’s jacket back. "I’m not that cold. You should use it instead."
Finn smiled at her and said, "I’m fine. Just take it, knowing you get sick easily as well."
"Tch." Max clicked his tongue and looked away in irritation, rolling his eyes at the two lovebirds near him. "I should start thinking of my future as well."
Max’s realization during this entire trip was that he needed romance in his life. He was growing overly bitter at Nina and Finn’s interaction. He had been staying with them more, after all. In other words, he had been third-wheeling. It was still better than being Lily’s shopping bag carrier, though.
As he thought about it, his eyes fell in Lily’s direction. Lily was lting into the heat, and by the smile on her face, she was happy with it. However, his focus didn’t last on her as his eyes veered to Ginnie.
"..." Max stared at the boyish Ginnie, who seed a little too fixated on the fire as if she was wondering how Mark did it. When Ginnie arched a brow upon sensing his gaze on her, she looked up. However, all she saw was Max chugging down his cold beer in one go.
"Gee." Ginnie’s face contorted as she briefly judged Max before rising from her seat to ask Mark about sothing.
anwhile, Max almost choked on his beer as a sense of dread began creeping up his spine. ’Why did I just look at her? This trip really sses with people’s heads — goodness. I just got goosebumps.’
Around the bonfire, Ray sat near Mint, and as expected, he wouldn’t stop spewing nonsense at her. Despite Mint’s coldness toward him, Ray was known for being resilient for a reason.
"Sir Ray really is... admirable in his own way," Benjamin mumbled as he watched his cousin’s patience level. His attention, however, shifted when he saw Slater getting up from his seat and walking away. "Where is Third Brother going now?"
Wondering where Slater was headed, Benjamin’s eyes fell on Penny and recalled sothing. "Uh, Mint..." he trailed off, seeing that the log where Mint and Ray had previously been sitting was now empty. When he looked back, all he saw was Mint dragging Ray away as if she was planning to hide him permanently.
"Uh..." Benjamin blinked and blinked again, watching his cousin and then moving his gaze to where Penny was. "Now that I think of it, why are Miss Penny and Mint acting as if they don’t know each other?"
Didn’t Penny send Slater to the Holand Security office not long ago for an errand? That ant one way or another, Penny should’ve known about Mint, right?
"That... that’s strange," he murmured.
Reviews
All reviews (0)